Archive for the ‘Chevron’ tag

Business mogul and former British House of Lords member Irvine Laidlaw doesn’t view himself as a car collector. Instead, Laidlaw considers himself a car enthusiast, saying, “I want to exercise my cars regularly, rather than gloat over them in the garage.” Lord Laidlaw has done so extensively over the past few decades, routinely running his historic racing cars in vintage events around the globe, but now, having reached the decision to end his racing days, Laidlaw will sell off his entire collection of historically significant race cars at auction.

It’s difficult to single out a “star” in the collection, but Laidlaw’s long-nose 1955 Jaguar D-type, chassis XKD 504, is certainly among the most interesting cars to be offered. It began life as a Jaguar factory team car, prepared for the 1955 running of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where it was kept as a backup and did not turn a wheel in anger. It first saw competition at Silverstone in 1956, where driver Jack Fairman’s day ended with a DNF. The car’s next outing was at the 1956 Nürburgring 1000km, where co-drivers Paul Frere and Duncan Hamilton also suffered the same fate. Sold to Ecurie Ecosse for the 1957 season, the car was raced by a variety of drivers (including Masten Gregory and Innes Ireland) in events like the Spa GP, the 12 Hours of Sebring, the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Tourist Trophy, before being sold to privateer Mike Salmon. Salmon raced the car through the 1961 season, before selling XKD 504 to Peter Sutcliffe, who crashed it heavily at Snetterton in 1963.

Rebuilt by Jaguar with the subframe from XKD 505, the car was later fitted with an all-new subframe (in order to sell off the XKD 505 frame). In 1994, the original XKD 504 subframe was purchased from Sutcliffe, repaired and refitted to the car, making it as close to original as possible. Its racing history and chain of ownership is clear and well-documented, meaning that this Jaguar D-type will possibly draw the highest selling price of any car in the Laidlaw collection.

A pair of Maserati race cars will surely draw strong interest, as well. Included in the sale will be a 1958 Maserati 250S, chassis 2432, originally delivered to Carroll Shelby’s Sports Cars and reportedly campaigned by Carroll Shelby and Chaparral founder Jim Hall. Joining this car on the block will be a 1960 Tipo 61 “Birdcage,” chassis 2464, one of three factory racers originally purchased when Lucky Casner founded Scuderia Camoradi in 1960. The car was raced at the Nürburgring, at Le Mans and at Karlskoga, and its driver list included names like Masten Gregory, Ian Burgess, Gino Munaron, Jim Jeffords, and Jo Bonnier.

Another ex-works team car of note to be sold from the Laidlaw collection is the 1965 Porsche 904/6, chassis number 906-012, driven by Peter Noecker and Guenther Klass to a sixth-place finish in the 1965 Nürburgring 1000km. It later saw action in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, driven by Klass and co-driver Dieter Glemser, but failed to finish the race. In 1966, the car was sold without its original engine to George Drolsom, who fitted it with the engine from 904-013 (previously damaged in a racing accident). Following a crash at Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, chassis 906-012 was returned to Porsche for repair, where it was subsequently fitted with a four-cam engine. In the years since, the car has been converted to a T-Top roof and a turbocharged 906 engine was reportedly added (though it’s unknown if Laidlaw retained this for competition use).

Other historic racing cars from the Laidlaw collection, which will cross the block at RM’s upcoming London sale, include a 1966 Ferrari 275 GTB/C Berlinetta Competizione, a 1970 Chevron B16 and a 1970 Chevron B19. The auction will take place in London’s Battersea Park September 7-9; for more information, visit RMAuctions.com.

Chevron recently announced a new line of oil, Havoline with Deposit Shield Motor Oil. Deposit buildup and viscosity increases interfere with moving parts so that they don’t slide past each other easily.
Of course, this leads to loss of power and quicker internal wear, all engine-harming effects. Havoline with Deposit Shield is a new formula that protects against new deposit buildup. Its advanced detergent technology works immediately upon contact with the engine’s moving parts, creating a protective coating that shields against deposit formation and stays coated, making it a good choice for high-heat producing engines as well as turbocharged engines. The new formula also has exceptional viscosity control that helps maintain engine power and preserve fuel economy, while supporting the smooth-running operation of the engine. Its conventional, high-mileage and synthetic-blend formulas are available in quarts and a new gallon size, which better meets the needs of do-it-yourself auto enthusiasts.
Havoline with Deposit Shield retail average is $2.69 per quart. For more information, visit chevron.com.

(This post originally appeared in the February 15, 2007, issue of the Hemmings eWeekly Newsletter.)